Bitung City Supported To Enter UNESCO Creative Cities Network, This Is The Reason Menparekraf Sandiaga Uno

Menparekraf Sandiaga Salahuddin Unp in the workshop "Creative Words" (Doc. Kemenparekraf)

JAKARTA - Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy/Head of the Tourism and Creative Economy Agency (Menparekraf/Kabaparekraf), Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, supports the efforts of Bitung City, North Sulawesi, to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

Menparekraf Sandiaga in the "Creative Word" workshop which took place at Yulita Hills Coffee and Resto, West Bitung, Sunday (13/10/2024), said the status as a creative city of UNESCO was important not only as an international recognition, but also had a broad impact on the sustainability of the potential of art, culture, and local economy. Therefore, he supports Bitung with a culinary sub-sector chosen to enter the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

"On several occasions, we have appointed Bitung City as the world's creative city and our last effort to bring it to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network will continue to be maximized, so that creative economy actors in Bitung City can increase sales of their products. Then we can open the widest possible employment opportunities," said Menparekraf Sandiaga.

Menparekraf juga memperkuat subsektor ekonomi kreatif lainnya di Kota Bitung, seperti batik khas Bitung dengan motif burung manguni dan tarsius.

"This star is also one of the buffer areas for Likupang's super priority destinations, so we hope that MSME actors here can improve the local economy and the welfare of the community," said Sandiaga.

Furthermore, the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy also encouraged Bitung's creative economy to synergize with tourist villages in their regions in marketing their products. He also wants Bitung City to be able to build partnerships with large tourism industries.

One of the efforts made is to include Bitung City in the National Partnership Program for the Supply Chain of the Tourism and Creative Economy Industry (KENAROK).

"Later we will facilitate and coordinate with the resort in Bitung City. So ask for help from the BPPD to collect data, and we will facilitate it," said the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy.

The Governor of North Sulawesi, Olly Dondokambey, said that he would continue to strive to intensify the creative economy in Bitung City and other areas in North Sulawesi.

"Thank you for the support of Menparekraf Sandiaga for his presence in supporting the creative economy in Bitung," he said.

The Mayor of Bitung, Maurits Mantiri, said that becoming a world creative city is the dream of Bitung City, therefore his party will continue to strive to strengthen the creative economy ecosystem in Bitung.

"There have been many areas in North Sulawesi that have become creative cities, by making extraordinary improvisations, thus supporting our program. Therefore, this recognition is clear evidence of Bitung becoming a Creative City and heading to the World Creative City," he said.